Nikephoros 8

Prosopography of the Byzantine Empire
SexM
FloruitM VIII-E IX
Dates802 (taq) / 811 (ob.)
PmbZ No.5252
Variant NamesNyqwprws;
Nicephorus I (emperor)
LocationsBulgaria (deathplace);
Bulgaria;
Hagia Sophia (Constantinople);
Constantinople (officeplace);
Cappadocia (residence);
Cappadocia (birthplace);
Cappadocia;
Constantinople (residence);
Phrygia;
Lycaonia;
Constantinople
TitlesPatrikios (dignity);
Augustus (office);
Emperor (office);
Genikos logothetes (office)
Textual SourcesBar Hebraeus, Chronographia, tr. E. A. W. Budge, The Chronography of Abu 'l-Faraj (London, 1932; repr. Amsterdam, 1976) (history);
Chronicon Anonymi ad annum 1234 pertinens, ed. and tr. J.-B. Chabot, I = CSCO 81-82 (Paris, 1916-20), II = CSCO 109 (Louvain, 1937) (chronicle);
Chronicon anonymi ad annum 813 pertinens, Fragmenta, ed. E. W. Brooks, CSCO 6, Scriptores Syri 6 (Louvain, 1907; repr 1960), pp. 183-196 (chronicle);
Genesii, Josephi, Regum Libri Quattuor, eds. A. Lesmüller-Werner and I. Thurn, CFHB 14 (Berlin, 1978) (history);
Scylitzes, Ioannes, Synopsis Historiarum, ed. J. Thurn (Berlin, 1973) (history);
Theodorus Studita, Epistulae, ed. G. Fatouros, CFHB 31.1-2 (Berlin/New York, 1992) (letters);
Theophanes Confessor, Chronographia, ed. C. de Boor, 2 vols. (Leipzig, 1883-85, repr. Hildesheim/NewYork, 1980); tr. and comm. C. Mango and R. Scott, The Chronicle of Theophanes Confessor, Oxford 1997 (chronicle);
Theophanes Continuatus, ed. I. Bekker (Bonn, 1838) (history);
Vita A Theodori Studitae, Auctore Theodoro Daphnopate? (BHG 1755), PG 99. 113-232 (hagiography);
Vita B Theodori Studitae, Auctore Michaele Monacho Studita (BHG 1754), PG. 99. 233-328 (hagiography);
Vita C Theodori Studitae, Auctore Incerto (BHG 1755d), ed. B. Latyshev, "Vita S. Theodori Studitae in codice Mosquensi musei Rumianzoviani no 520", VV 21 (1914), pp. 258-304 (hagiography);
Vita Ignatii Patriarchae, by Nicetas (BHG 817), PG 105.488-574) (hagiography);
Vita Nicetae Hegoumeni Medicii, Auctore Theostericto (BHG 1341), AASS April I, Appendix, pp. xviii-xxviii (hagiography);
Vita Nicolai Studitae (BHG 1365), PG 105. 863-925 (hagiography);
Vita Petri Atroensis, by Sabas the monk (BHG 2364), ed. V. Laurent, La Vie merveilleuse de Saint Pierre d'Atroa, Subsidia Hagiographica 29 (Brussels, 1956) (hagiography);
Vita Retractata Petri Atroensis, by Sabas the monk (BHG 2365), ed. V. Laurent, La Vita retractata et les miracles posthumes de Saint Pierre d'Atroa, Subsidia Hagiographica 31 (Brussels, 1958) (hagiography);
Vita Theophylacti Archiepiscopi Nicomediae, (BHG 2451), ed. A. Vogt, "S. Théophylacte de Nicomédie", Anal. Boll. 50 (1932), pp. 71-82 (hagiography);
Zonaras = Ioannis Zonarae Epitome Historiarum, libri XIII-XVIII, ed. Th. Büttner-Wobst, (Bonn, 1897) (history)
Seal SourcesKonstantipoulos, K.M., Byzantiaka Molybdoboulla tou en Athenais Ethnikou Nomismatikou Mouseiou (Athens, 1917); repr. from JIAN 5-10 (1902-07);
Zacos, G. and Veglery, A., Byzantine Lead Seals, vol. I (in 3 parts) (Basel, 1972).

Since Nikephoros 8's daughter (Prokopia 1, see below) was old enough to marry and have children by c. 793, he was presumably born no later than c. 770. Father of Staurakios 2: Theoph. AM 6296 (ἔστεψε Νικηφόρος τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Σταυράκιον), Theoph. AM 6300 (Νικηφόρος ... Σταυράκιον, τὸν υἱὸν αὐτου), Theoph. AM 6303 (Νικηφόρος ... Σταυρακίῳ, τῷ υἱῷ αὐτοῦ), Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 489C (τοῦ υἱοῦ), Theoph. Cont. I 4 (p. 11), Scyl., p. 5, Zon. XV 14. 13, Vita S. Theophylacti 10. Father of Staurakios 2: (Σταυρακίου τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, Vita B Theod. Stud., 272C, Vita A Theod. Stud., 164C, Vita C Theod. Stud. §§31-32, pp. 276-277. He also had a daughter (Prokopia 1) who married Michael 7 (the emperor Michael I): Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 489C (Προκοπία δὲ Νικηφόρου θυγάτηρ), Theoph. Cont. I 4 (p. 12), cf. Genesius I 1 (Michael was his γαμβρός). Grandfather of Ignatios 1 and Eustratios (Theophylaktos 9): Theoph. Cont. I 10 (p. 20), IV 30 (p. 193), Zon. XVI 4. 30. He was grandfather of Niketas (Ignatios 1), Theophylaktos 9, Staurakios 12, Georgo 1 and Theophano 2: Nicetas, Vita Ignatii 492AB. Theophanes writes of the Paulicians and the Athinganoi of Phrygia and Lycaonia as his near-neighbours (ἀγχιγειτόνων αὐτοῦ): Theoph. AM 6303, cf. Zon. XV 15. 3. He therefore came from central Asia Minor. According to the Chron. 1234, he was a native of Cappadocia: Chron. 1234, §189 (II, p. 4) (Nyqwprws Q'pdwky'). In 802 he was patrikios and genikos logothetes (Νικηφόρος πατρίκιος καὶ γενικὸς λογοθέτης); on 31 October he rebelled (ἐτυράννησε) against the empress Eirene 1 in Constantinople; with his supporters he placed the empress under arrest and was crowned emperor on the following morning in Hagia Sophia; according to Theophanes his opponents described him as a swineherd: Theoph. AM 6295 (they were distressed that God allowed Eirene 1 to be overthrown ὑπὸ συβώτου), cf. Zon. XV 13. 27-31 (τὸν πατρίκιον Νικηφόρον καὶ γενικὸν λογοθέτην; proclaimed emperor in place of Eirene 1), XVI 4. 30 (Νικηφόρου τοῦ βασιλέως τοῦ ἀπὸ γενικῶν), Scyl., pp. 3, 10 (ὁ ἀπὸ γενικῶν), Vita Georg. Amastr. 35, pp. 53.2-54.8 (γενικὸς λογοθέτης; successor of Eirene 1). Successor of Eirene 1: Vita S. Theophylacti 10. He became emperor after the overthrow of Eirene 1: Vita A Theod. Stud., 153D (τὸν γὰρ τῶν σκήπτρων τηνικαῦτα ἐπειλημμένον ..., Νικηφόρον φημὶ τὸν δύστροπον, τὸν καὶ τὴν θεοφιλῆ Εἰρήνην τῆς βασίλειας ἐξώσαντα, καὶ ἑαυτῷ ταύτην ἐπὶ κακῷ περιθέμενον τῷ σφετέρῷ). He was allegedly chosen to replace Eirene 1 because he was "a powerful man and renowned in victory and resourceful" and judged capable of delivering the Romans from war: Chron. 1234, §189 (II, p. 4) (dated in year 1111 Sel., i.e. 800). His supporters are named by Theophanes as Niketas 11, Sisinnios 1, Leo 13, Gregorios 10, Theoktistos 2, Petros 11 and Leo 14. The attitude to Nikephoros 8 and his reign in Theophanes is one of profound hostility, involving accusations of deceit and faithlessness and disregard for the laws; cf. Theoph. AM 6296 and passim. He had his son Staurakios 2 crowned emperor in Hagia Sophia by the patriarch Tarasios 1 in December 803: Theoph. AM 6296 (ἔστεψε Νικηφόρος τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ Σταυράκιον διὰ Ταρασίου, τοῦ ἁγιωτάτου πατριάρχου), Zon. XV 14. 13. He lamented the death of Tarasios 1: Vita Tarasii 420,20-27. He held a bride show for his son and married him to Theophano 1 on 20 December 807: Theoph. AM 6300. Joint emperor with his son: Vita Petr. Atr. 11, 12 (p. 97), Vita Petr. Atr. Retractata 19 (p. 97), cf. Theoph. Cont. I 4 (p. 11) (they were joint rulers for eight years seven months). He is described as an enthusiastic supporter of the Paulicians and the Athinganoi, delighting in their secret rituals and allowing them freely to take part in public life during his reign; he was also, allegedly, a supporter of iconoclasts: Theoph. AM 6303, Zon. XV 15. 3. The successor of Eirene 1, he is described as εὐσεβέστατος καὶ φιλόπτωχος καὶ φιλομόναχος by Theosteriktos in the Life of Niketas of Medikion: Vita Nicetae Medicii (AASS, April I) 37. While on campaign against the Bulgars in 811, after a successful attack on the Bulgar capital, he and his army were trapped somewhere in the mountains and suffered very great losses; Nikephoros 8 himself was killed; the date was 26 July: Theoph. AM 6303 (26 July), Theoph. Cont. I 4 (p. 11; 26 July), Scyl., p. 5, cf. Theoph. Cont. I 1 (p. 6) (ὁ τρόπαιον ἐν Βουλγαρίᾳ γενόμενος), Zon. XV 15. 13, Vita S. Theophylacti 10, Vita Nic. Stud. 896D, Theod. Stud., Laudatio Platonis VI 39 (844A), Vita Nicetae Medicii 43, Synax. Eccl. Const. 341/342. 22ff., 343/344, 29-33. He was killed in battle with the Bulgars: Vita A Theod. Stud., 164AC (βαρβαρικαῖς ἁλοὺς χερσὶν, οὐ μόνον αἰσχρῶς ἀφῄρητο τὴν ζωὴν, ἀλλὰ καὶ τὴν ἀποτμηθεῖσαν κεφαλὴν παίγνιον κατέλιπε τῷ Βουλγάρων γένει), Vita B Theod. Stud., 272AC (ἐν τῇ τῶν Βουλγάρων χώρᾳ τὸ ζῆν μεταστρέψαντος), Vita C Theod. Stud., 277. He was succeeded by his son Staurakios 2: Theoph. AM 6303, Theoph. Cont. I 4 (p. 11), Scyl., p. 5, Vita S. Theophylacti 10. For his imperial seals, see Zacos and Veglery 42-46, Konstantopoulos, JIAN 9, 278a.

Addressee of a letter from Theodoros 15 (Theodore the Stoudite): Theod. Stud., Ep. 16.

A native of Cappadocia, he held office as logothetes; under the empress Eirene 1 the Romans planned to make him emperor; he was hidden for a while by Aetios 1 to escape blinding by Eirene 1, but then became emperor in the year 1114 Sel. (802/803); a plot against him by Eirene 1, Aetios 1 and some monks was disclosed and he punished Eirene 1 and Aetios 1 but spared the monks: Bar Hebr., p. 120. At the start of his reign he prepared for war against the Arabs under Harun al-Rashid (Harun 1); they faced one another with their armies but decided to make peace and exchanged gifts: Bar Hebr., p. 121. In the year 1115 Sel., after the month Nisan (after April 804) he marched east against Harun 1 and again they made peace, Harun 1 freeing all his Roman captives and giving Nikephoros 8 his tents and their furnishings; during the period of peace Nikephoros 8 rebuilt Ankyra, Tyana, Herakleia and other places seized by the Arabs under his reign: Bar Hebr., p. 122. In the year 1122 Sel. (810/811) he campaigned against the Bulgars and captured and destroyed their capital and murdered many Bulgars including the children; later he was killed by a Roman ("And in that year Nicephor was killed by a certain Rhomaya"): Bar Hebr., p. 124. He was said to be descended from Gabbala (Jabalah 1), a Christian Arab king who fled with his companions from the caliph Omar 1 to settle in Cappadocia in order to remain Christians: Bar Hebr., p. 121. Ruler of the Romans; he was the father of Staurakios 2 and of Prokopia 1, and the father-in-law of Michael 7; he was allegedly of Arab descent; on his death he was succeeded by Staurakios: Chron. 813, p. 259, 22-p. 260, 8 = p. 196.

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